Cake icing machine

ABSTRACT

Machine for making cakes which comprises a base, a main plate mounted to rotate about a vertical axis with respect to said base, a plurality of molds, each mounted to rotate about an individual vertical axis carried by said main plate, said axes being equally spaced one from the other and located in a ring concentric with the axis of said main plate, means for imparting intermittent rotary motion to said main plate, means for rotating at least some of said molds about their individual axes during periods when said main plate is stationary, at least one supporting arm mounted on said base which supports a plurality of nozzles and which extends over the path travelled by said molds when said main plate is rotated, and means for introducing icing into said nozzles, during periods when the main plate is stationary.

United States Patent 1191 Tanara 1 11 3,751,198 1451 Aug. 7, 1973 1 1 CAKE ICING MACHINE [75] inventor: Giovanni Tanara, Parma, Italy [73] Assigncc: Foodice Engineering ltaliana S.p.A.,

Parma, Italy [22] Filed: Oct. 1, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.2 77,302

[52] U.S. C1 425/100, 425/117, 425/127,

425/434, 118/24, 118/319, 118/320 [51] Int. Cl..... A0lj 21/00, A0lj 25/12, A2lc 9/04, A23g 1/20, A47j 43/20, B28b 7/38, 82% 1/00 [58] Field of Search 425/90, 71, 130, 425/1l7;118/14,18

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 956,684 5/1910 Colbornc 107/28 1,836,006 12/1931 Bigton et al..,. 107/1 B 3,182,611 5/1965 Rubenstcin 107/54 R X 3,202,114 8/1965 Cameron et a1. 107/54 R Primary ExaminerG. V. Larkin Atlorney-Holcombe, Wcthcrill 8L Brisebois [57] ABSTRACT Machine for making cakes which comprises a base, a main plate mounted to rotate about a vertical axis with respect to said base, a plurality of molds, each mounted to rotate about an individual vertical axis carried by said main plate, said axes being equally spaced one from the other and located in a ring concentric with the axis of said main plate, means for imparting intermittent rotary motion to said main plate, means for rotating at least some of said molds about their individual axes during periods when said main plate is stationary,

at least one supporting arm mounted on said base which supports a plurality of nozzles and which extends over the path travelled by said molds when said main plate is rotated, and means for introducing icing into said nozzles, during periods when the main plate is stationary.

33 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PAIENIEM 3.751.198

sum 010F14 linven'har G. TAN ARA AMLABM'W Mk minnow 1w 3.751.198

' sum 02 or 1 4 Invrfi- B G Tim ARA MWLMMMM Mammals PATENTED 7975 3.751.198

' sum 03 [1F 14 Fig-5 Fig-4 InverH- G. TA ARA;

PATENTED RUE 7 5 SHEET 08 0F 14 Inv Qwhr B k m w m .T. G

sum 10 0F 14 PATENIEmus ma mop PATENIEDMJB 11w sum 13 or 14 s GTAMARA 1 CAKE ICING MACHINE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method of icing cakes. Such cakes generally consist of a supporting layer made of a thin disc of Genoese cake and one or more layers of icing carrying one or more various decorations made of edible material.

Such cakes have heretofore been hand made and consequently require a great deal of hand labor. Moreover, this labor must be highly skilled, because the surface decorations are hand made by master cake makers.

The manual manufacture of cakes has heretofore been necessary because no one had discovered a method of automatically introducing the icing into the molds which contain the Genoese cake at the bottom and especially no means was known for automatically manufacturing the surface decorations.

The conventional methods of automatically introducing filling to ordinary tart shells and the like are not adapted to the icing of cakes because such methods are intended to automatically introduce into each shell a predetermined quantity of filling which is then molded and compressed in the shell by application of a cover.

In order to permit the completely automatic manufacture of iced cakes without any hand work whatever, it is necessary to provide means for spreading icing which must be applied to a surface much larger than that of an ordinary tart shell and it is consequently necessary to utilize an entirely different method of applying the icing.

Moreover, in order to decrease expense, it is preferable for the introduction of the icing into the mold to be made by the same means required to decorate its surface so that all steps in manufacturing the cake can be carried out on a single machine.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing iced cakes which permits the completely automatic manufacture of such cakes, with their surface decorations, without any manual intervention whatever.

This object is obtained by introducing the icing into the mold which already contains an uniced base and which is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, providing several nozzles which extend parallel to said axis and which are capable of imparting to said mold an angular rotation through an amplitude such as to produce uniform distribution of the icing in the mold itself.

The invention also comprises a machine adapted to carry out the foregoing process. This machine is characterized by the fact that it comprises:

a. a base;

b. a platform which rotates about a vertical axis with respect to said base;

c. several supports uniformly distributed about the circumference of the platform each of said supports being rotatable about a vertical axis;

d. several molds, each mounted on one of said supports;

e. means for intermittently rotating said platform;

f. at least one supporting arm mounted onthe base which supports a plurality of nozzles having vertical axes and which extend above the path traversed by the molds as the platform rotates; and

g. means for supplying icing to the nozzles which are supported by said arms.

These means are synchronized with the rotation of the platform and with the rotation of the supports for the molds so as to determine the introduction of the icing in the mold when it is stopped beneath the nozzles and the simultaneous rotation after the distribution of the icing into the mold.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention are disclosed in the following descriptions and the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a device for carrying out the process according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the machine according to the invention as a whole;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view on an enlarged scale showing one of the stations for sprinkling liquid;

FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a plan view on an enlarged scale showing a station for introducing a seasoning;-

FIG. 8 is a section taken along the line 88 of FIG.

. FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of the station illustrated in FIG. 9',

FIG. 11 is a plan view on an enlarged scale showing a detail, namely a station for introducing ingredients in a granular state;

FIG. 12 is a section taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a partial sectional view taken along the line l313 of FIG. ll;

FIG. 14 is a'plan view on an enlarged scale showing in detail a station adapted to produce an ornamental design on the surface of the cake;

FIG. [5 is a side elevational view of the station shown in FIG. [4;

FIG. 16 is a rear elevational view of the station shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a section taken along the line I7-I7 of FIG. 15; and

FIG. 18 is 'a vertical axial sectional view taken along the line I8l8 of FIG. 2.

In FIG. 1 reference character A indicates a belt which drives a vertical shaft B which rotates about its own axis and supports at its upper end a receptacle C adapted to hold a cake to be iced. Above the receptacle C and extending radially with respect thereto is an arm D provided with several nozzles E for spraying icing into the receptacle C.

The nozzles E are distributed along a radius of the receptacle C and are adapted to fill the receptacle C itself with icing when the receptacle C has made a complete revolution.

Naturally, the nozzles E may extend for a full diameter of the receptacle when the latter turns through only a semi-circle.

FIG. 1 shows schematically the method of filling the receptacle according to the invention, whereas FIG. 2 and the following figures illustrate a preferred embodi- FIG. 9 is a side elevational view, partially in section,

ment of a machine adapted to carry out the method illustrated in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 indicates as a whole an automatic machine for icing cakes. This machine 1 comprises a drum 2 which is substantially cylindrical and provided with a vertical shaft supported at its bottom, which support is not shown in the figure.

The drum 2 comprises an disc 3 which serves as a base carries a peripheral rim 4 which is cylindrical with respect to a vertical axis. I

At the top of the rim 4 and on its external surface is welded a circular rail 5 having a u-shapcd section.

The drum 2 is closed at its upper end by a cover 6 consisting of an annular plate having flange 7 at its outer edge adapted to seat in the rail 5.

The cover 6 comprises a circular part 8 which is positioned in the center of the annular part. The cover part is removable in order to inspect the interior of the drum 2. Inside the drum 2 the base 3 supports a second rim 9 which is cylindrical in form and concentric with respect to the rim 4 having a diameter equal to about three-fourths that of the rim 4 and being of approximately the same height.

The rim 9 supports a plate 10 which is annular in shape and lies in a horizontal plane. The inner edge of the plate 10 rests on the rim 9 and its outer edge is welded to the inner surface of the rim 4.

A shaft 11 having a vertical axis is journalled in the base 3 in alignment with the axis of the drum 2.

The top of the shaft 11 is mounted beneath the cover 8 and connected as shown in FIG. 3 to a hub 12 to which the various arms 13 are attached. These arms are radially disposed parallel to the cover 6. At the bottom of the hub 12 on the shaft II is a second rotating hub 14 seated in an oscillating bearing 15.

Several arms l6 are fixed to the hub 14. These arms project radially therefrom and are connected at their outer ends to the inner surface of the rim 4. The arms 16 support in alignment with their upper surfaces a circular rail 17 having a u-shaped section. The rail 17 is co-axial with the drum 2 and has a diameter intermediate that of the rim 9 and the rim 4. The shaft I1 is rotated through a Maltese cross coupling indicated as a whole by reference numeral 18 and actuated by electric motor 19 of the self-braking type, provided with reduction gearing 20.

The Maltese cross coupling 18 comprises a circular wheel 21 which carries projections 22 distributed about its outer edge and separated one from the other by recesses 23 having circular bottoms.

At their outer edges the projections 22 have shallower recesses 24, also part circular in shape.

The recesses 24 are adapted to cooperate with a hub 25 attached to the output shaft 26 of reduction gearing 20. This shaft is vertical and supported by a support 27 fixed to the plate 3. The hub 25 has an eccentric projection 28 which is fork-shaped and horizontal and which supports therewithin a bearing not shown in the drawings. The hub 25 and projection 28 cooperate respectively with recesses 23 and 24 so that the electric motor [9 drives the shaft ll. Since the shaft II is attached to the hub 12 the latter is also intermittently driven with the arm 13 by the electric motor [9. Since the arms 13 are attached to the cover 6 by several screws 29 the cover 6 is also rotated by the electrical motor l9.

FIG. 6 shows that each arm 13 has at its end a hub 30 in which a rotating shaft 32 having a vertical axis is journalled. Each shaft 32 projects from the top of the drum 2 through holes 33 in the cover 6 and supports thereabove a horizontal plate 34.

A second plastic plate 35 adapted to hold the cake is positioned inside the metallic plate 34, which consequently serves as a mold carrier.

A U-shaped member 37 is attached by a bolt 36 to the lower end of the shaft 32. Two rollers 38 having vertical axes are attached to the ends of the U and adapted to slide in the groove in the rail 17. Since the rail I7 is fixed to the drum 2, the Ushaped member 37 with the rollers 38 acts as a seat for the shaft 32. Consequently, the plates 34 turn with the cover 6 and are attached thereto. As they rotate inside the drum 2 the plates 34 reach points at which it is possible for them to turn about their own axes even though still engaged through the U-shaped member 37 in the rail 17. In effect, in order to permit plates 34 to turn with respect to the cover 6 the rail 17 is cut at these points to provide sections 39 of the rail 17 which are separate from the remainder of the rail 17 and aligned therewith. The sections 39 are long enough to receive a u-shaped member 37 with the rollers 38 and are supported from beneath by a shaft 40 supported inside the plate 10 and pivotally mounted with respect to the plate 10 through two bearings 41. Each shaft 40 has at the bottom of the rail section 39 joined thereto a toothed wheel 42 coaxial with the shaft 40 and fixed thereto.

The toothed wheel 42 is adapted to cooperate with a rack 43 fixed to one side of a pneumatic cylinder 44 which is in turn attached by a bracket 45 to the inner surface of the rim 4. The stroke of the pneumatic cylinder 44 is of a length such that the rack 43 when in engagement with the toothed wheel 42 rotates the shaft 40 through about 370. In this manner, each plate 34 rotated with the cover 6 by the arm 13 traverses the entire circumference of the drum 2 since the rotation about the drum 2 is due to the Maltese cross-coupling.

When this rotation stops, if the plate 34 with its U shaped member 37 is in alignment with a continuous portion of the rail 17 it remains inactive during the halt whereas if the U-shaped member 37 is in alignment with a section 39 of the rail supported by a rotating shaft 40 the plate 34 rotates once about itself during the halt.

The plates 34 are so driven through the Maltese cross coupling 18 as to bring each plate 34 to a halt in alignment with several working stations which, in successive operations, permit the manufacture of the iced cake.

The working stations may be of different types and may be as numerous as desired but they will always comprise a station 46 at which the mold 35 on the plate 34 is charged and at which a thin disc of Genoese cake is introduced into the mold. They will also comprise a station 47 at which liquid is sprayed onto the Genoese cake, a station 48 at which any suitable seasoning or flavoring is sprayed onto the disc, e.g. sabayon, preserves, or any other similar product, as well as a station 49 for coloring the basic cake with icing, and a second station 50 similar to the first, a station SI for spraying granular products onto the top of the cake, and finally a station for decorating the surface of the cakeand a discharge station. The said stations follow generally in the order given, but the machine 1 comprises vacant stations inserted between the aforementioned stations so as to permit the possible addition of other steps useful in carrying out the operation.

Moreover, each station may be excluded from the operation when it is desired to manufacture simpler cakes.

In alignment with the charging station 46 the mold 35 on the plate 34 is charged. In other words, the plates 34 when in alignment with station 46 are in a position such that the u-shaped members 37 are in engagement with a continuous section of the rail 17.

The mold 35 on each plate 34 may be charged by hand or automatically by means of a charging cylinder not shown on the drawings. Once the mold 35 has been positioned on the plate 34 a disc of cake may be positioned on the bottom of the mold by hand. The Maltese cross coupling 18 then moves each plate 34 from the station 46 to the station 47 at which a liquid is sprayed onto the cake. When aligned with the station 47 as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, plate 34 is also aligned with a continuous portion of the rail 17 and consequently does not rotate about its own axis. The station 47 consists of a supporting arm 54 which extends vertically and is attached to but separable from the lateral outer surface of the rim 4. The supporting arm 54 overhangs the cover 6 and slidably supports a hub 55 which may be adjusted by an adjusting screw 56 and can beretained in a precise position by a set screw 57.

The hub 55 is fixed to a support 58 above the drum 2 which projects radially with respect thereto. At the end of the support 58 is a cylindrical hub 59 having a vertical axis which extends into a cylindrical chamber 60 in which a small piston 61 is slidable. The piston 61 is actuated by a double acting pneumatic cylinder 62 supported on the top of the hub 59. At the bottom it carries a pin 63 adapted to control a vertical duct 64 for supplying a liquid. The liquid is admitted into the cylindrical chamber 60 through two duets 65 each provided with a filter 66 and two valves 67 positioned on opposite sides of the filter 66.

The outer surface of the hub 59 is attached by suitable arms to a sprinkling screen 68 co-axial with the hub 59 and a little therebelow. Station 47 operates as follows. The liquor is delivered through the ducts 65 into the cylindrical chamber 60 under a certain pressure. The ducts 65 are two in number and are each provided with a filter 66. As a general rule only one of the ducts 65 is in use because the second duct is kept in reserve in case of damage to the first. When the plate 34 reaches the station 47 a device not shown transmits a signal to the pneumatic cylinder 62 which pushes the little piston 61 upward together with the pin 63 so as to deliver liquid to the outlet duct 64. The jet of liquid is conical and covers the surface of the cake in the mold 35. Depending on the dimensions of the mold 35 the hub 55 is lifted by the adjusting screw 56 into a position such as to guarantee complete coverage of the surface of the cake without having the liquid spray out beyond the periphery of the mold 35.

When the spraying of the liquidonto the surface of the cake has been terminated, the arm 13, and consequently the plates 34 again begin to roll around the drum 2. At the next stop the plate 34 is in alignment with the station 48 adapted to spread a flavoring on the upper surface of the cake. Station 48 is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 and comprises a vertical supporting arm 69 which is demountably attached to the lateral surface of the rim 4. The supporting arm 69 extends over the cover 6 and slidably supports a hub 70 which is adjustable as to height by an adjusting screw 71 and which is adapted to be fixed in a precise position with respect to the supporting arm 69 by set screw 72.

A support 73 is fixed to the hub 70 and its end is fixed to the threaded cover 74 of a box 75 at the lower end of the support 73.

The bottom 76 of the box 75 has a number of holes 77 which are normally obstructed by a valve member 78. The valve member 78 comprises several strips radiating from a vertical shaft 79 in the box 75 and adapted, when rotated, to move the radiating strips so as to uncover the holes 77. The box 75 has at one side a hole (not shown) to permit access of the flavoring which is to fall on the cake. The shaft 79 carries at its upper end a projection 81 which is adapted to fit into a vertical shaft 82 which is co-axial with the shaft 79 and projects from the upper surface of the box 75. The shaft 82 is rotatably seated in a hub 83 fixed to the upper surface of the support 73. The shaft 82 is rotated by a crank and connecting rod apparatus indicated as a whole by reference numeral 84. This operates in a horizontal plane and is actuated by a pneumatic cylinder 85 attached to the support 73 by a vertical shaft 86 fixed to the surface of the support 73. The station 48 which has just been described operates in the following manner. When the plate 34 arrives in alignment with the station 48 the U-shaped member 37 is in alignment with a continuous portion of the rail 17 consequently I the plate 34 does not turn while stopped at the station When the plate 34 stops beneath the station 48, a device not shown actuates the pneumatic cylinder 85 which in turn actuates the crank 84 (best seen in FIG. 7) to rotate the shafts 82 and 79. In consequence of the rotation of the shaft 79 the valve member 78 turns to uncover the holes 77 and the bottom 76 of the box 75. The material in the box 75 then flows out through the holes 77 and falls onto the surface of the cake. When the plate moves on, the pneumatic cylinder 85 moves the crank 84 and consequently the shafts 79 and 82 so as to bring the valve member 78 back into a position closing'the holes 77 so as to prevent the discharge of further material from the box 75.

On completion of the operation at station 48, successive rotations due to the Maltese cross coupling 18 bring the plate 34 successively into alignment with stations 49 and 50 illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 which are adapted to introduce layers of icing into the mold 35.

When the plate 34 reaches and stops in alignment with one of these stations, the U-shaped member 37 is, as shown in FIG. 4, in alignment with a segment cut from the rail 17, as shown in FIG. 18. When the U- shaped member 37 engages this portion 39 a device not shown on the drawings actuates the pneumatic cylinder 44 which acts through the rack 43 to turn the plate 34 about its axis while it is stopped beneath the station 49.

The stations 49 and 50 comprise a vertical supporting arm 87 removably attached to the outer lateral surface of the rim 4. The supporting arm 87 extends above the cover 6 and slidably supports a hub 88 which is adjustable as to height by an adjusting screw 89 and is retained in a precise position by a set screw 90. A support 91 is fixed to the hub 88 and projects radially over the drum 2. At its end, the support 91 carries a device 92 for introducing icing into the mold 35. The device 92 is vertically slidable with respect to the support 91 due to three supporting rods 93, which slide in vertical holes in the body of the support 91 itself and is vertically movable with respect to the support 91 by a pneumatic cylinder 94 above the support 91. The device 92 comprises an inner cylindrical chamber 95 having a horizontal axis which receives the icing through a lateral duct 96 which communicates with a T-shaped connection 97 directly connected with the refrigerator.

Adjacent the lateral surface of the cylindrical chamber 95 and below it is a slot 98 which extends the full length of the cylindrical chamber 95 and communicates with several vertical ducts 99 which terminate at their lower ends each in a nozzle I00. The effective volume of the ducts 99 may be adjusted by an adjusting screw WI. The nozzles I are positioned above the mold 35 and extend in a radial direction with respect thereto for a distance equal to a radius of the mold.

A plug I02 is positioned in the cylindrical chamber 95 and is adapted to rotate about the axis of that chamber and control the opening and closing of the slot 98.

The rotation of the plug 102 about its own axis is produced by an assembly of cranks such as 102a actuated by a pneumatic cylinder 103 directly supported by the device 102.

A bar 104 is attached to the outer surface of the device 92 and adapted to cooperate at its upper end with a stop 105 adapted to control the return of the device 92 along the bars 93.

The stations 49 and 50 operate in the following manner. When the plate 34 arrives in alignment with one of these stations the U-shaped member 37 engages a section 39 of the rail 17 and commences to turn about itself.

As the plate 34 turns on its own axis a pulse arrives at the pneumatic cylinder 94 and this lowers the device 92 which slides on the bars 93 to approach the plate 34.

At the same time the pneumatic cylinder I03 acts on the control cranks of the plug I02 to be rotated and opens the slot 98 through which the icing flows.

The icing is introduced into the mold 35 along a radius thereof and the mold is filled as it rotates through one complete revolution about its own axis. Once this revolution has been completed an impulse actuates the pneumatic cylinder 94 which, through the set of cranks controlling the plug 102, stops the introduction of icing. A moment later the bar 104 actuates the stop 105 which controls the return of the device 92 by actuating the pneumatic cylinder 94.

The possibility of moving the device 92 vertically makes it possible to manufacture cakes which vary in height and dimensions.

In the machine according to the invention the stations 49 and 50 are adapted to operate successively to supply different layers of icing. In any case, by actuating the adjusting screw it is always possible to regulate the quantity of icing introduced by the nozzle 100 so as to completely fill a mold 35 through only one of the stations 49 and 50 to the exclusion of the other, or to limit by operating the adjusting screw 101 the flow of the icing through the nozzle I00 so as to fill the molds 35 with icing having successive layers of different quality each supplied by the stations 49 and 50. In any event the regulating screw IOI may be so regulated as to distribute into the mold 35 a uniform quantity of icing throughout the mold. To this end the quantity of the icing which flows through the nozzle I00 decreases from the outside toward the inside of the mold 35. In

this way the arrangement of the nozzle 100 along a radius of the plates 34 makes it possible to perfectly fill a mold 35 in a single complete revolution of the latter about its axis. It is also possible to use devices 92 provided with nozzles 100 which extend over one complete diameter of the plate 34. In this case the mold 35 is filled by rotating it through an angle of 180' about its own axis. Once they have been completely filled with icing at the stations 49 and 50, the molds 35 are advanced' by the Maltese cross coupling to station 51 which is adapted to spread a granular alimentary material on top of the cakes.

Station 51 illustrated in FIGS. 11, I2 and 13 comprises a vertical supporting arm I06 which is removably attached to the lateral outer surface of the rim 4.

The supporting arm I06 extends above the cover 6 and supports at its upper end a support I07 fixed to the supporting arm 106. The support I07 carries at its end a cylindrical strip I08 having a vertical axis positioned above the plate 34.

The supporting arm I06 carries at its upper end a pneumatic cylinder 109 which actuates a horizontal bar 1 10 which occupies a radial position with respect to the cylindrical strip 108 and slidably supports the upper end of an arm 110a fixed to the cylindrical strip 108. The bar 110 has a U-shaped section and receives a chain 111. The chain 111 engages a pinion 112 mounted on hub 113 and connected thereto by a overrunning clutch. The hub 113 is supported by an arm 1 l4 transversely positioned with respect to the cylindrical strip 108 and adjacent its upper edge.

A shaft 115 is slidably mounted in the hub 113 and rotatably supported inside the cylinder 108 by a second arm 116 fixed to the cylindrical strip 108 itself and perpendicular to the arm 114.

At its lower end the shaft 115 is connected to a horizontal arm I17 adjacent the lower edge of the cylindrical strip 108. This has at the bottom a flange I I8 adapted to hold against the lower edge of the cylindrical strip I08 a very fine mesh screen II9 which covers the entire lower surface of the cylindrical strip I08. Above the screen I19 are radial bars I20 fixed to each other at right angles. 'Ihcsc radial bars I20 are held against the lower edge of the cylindrical band I08 by the flange 118. The station 51 which has just been described operates in the following manner. When the plate 34 reaches the station 51 its U-shaped member 37 is at a continuous point on the rail 17 and consequently, while stopped at station 51 does not rotate.

When the plate 34 reaches station 51 a device, not shown in the drawings, actuates the pneumatic cylinder 109 to produce axial movement of the bar 110 and the chain 111.

The latter, when it engages the pinion 112 rotates the shaft 115 and the arm I17. Since the cylinder defined by the cylindrical strip 108 is filled with alimentary products in a granular state, the arm 117 by agitating these products causes them to pass through the screen I19 and fall on the upper surface of the cake beneath itv The radial bars I20 bearing on the upper surface of the screen I I9 prevent the granular alimentary product from falling onto the cake beneath said bars so as to form on the surface of the cake designs which are the negative ofthe design formed by the bars I20. Once the alimentary product has been distributed on the surface of the cake the pneumatic cylinder I09 returns the bar and the chain 111 to its initial position. In any case the shaft is not affected by this movement of the pneumatic cylinder 109 because of the free wheeling connection between the pinion 1 12 and the hub 113.

Once the dosage of the granular alimentary product has been completed the drum 2 is again rotated by the Maltese cross coupling 18 and carries the plate 34 to the station 52 which is adapted to decorate the surface of the cake.

When the plate 34 arrives at the station 52 the U- shaped member 37 is in engagement with section 39 of the rail 17 as shown in FIG. 4 and consequently as long as the plate 34 is stopped below the station 52 it rotates on its own axis through a complete revolution.

The station 52, as shown in FIGS. l4, l5, l6 and 17, comprises a horizontal supporting plate 121 which is itself supported by the drum 2 adjacent the outer edge of the rim 4 by two telescopic shock absorbers 122 which are vertically positioned. Each of these telescopic shock absorbers 122 comprises two tubular bodies bearing reference numerals 123 and 124 respectively. The lowermost of these, 123, is fixed to a hub 125 which is in turn fixed to the lateral surface of the rim 4. The uppermost tubular member, 124, is fixed to a bar 126 attached to the plate 121 and slidably mounted in the hub 125. The bar 126 is mounted inside the two tubular members 123 and 124 and guides a spring 127 mounted inside each telescopic shock absorber.

The bars 126 extend from the bottom of each hub 125 and comprise portions indicated at 128 and 129 which are adapted to control the different movements of the station 52.

A support 130 fixed to the surface of the rim 4 is positioned between the two hubs 125 and supports above it a pneumatic cylinder 131 adapted to raise and lower the plate 121. The plate I2] is radially positioned with respect to the drum 2 and supports therebcneath a rail 132 which slidably carries on rollers 133 a slide 134 which supports a device 135 for introducing material adapted to produce an ornamental design onthe surface of the cake.

An air-oil device 136 comprises an oil operated cylinder 137 and a pneumatic cylinder 138 which are interconnected and is adapted to impart a reciprocating movement to the slide 134.

The device 135 comprises a support 139 connected to the slide 134. Several ducts 140 are provided in support 139. Each of these has at one end connecting means 14] adapted to connect it to a supply duct not shown and through which the icing which constitutes the ornamental material is introduced. Each duct is connected at its other end to a vertical nozzle 142 adapted to dispense the material over the surface of the cake.

Each duct 140 is controlled by two adjusting devices such as 143 and 144, the first of which regulates the quantity of material which flows through the duct 140 and remains stationary while the work is being performed and the second of which is open and closed in synchronism with the beginning and the end of each operation at that station by means of a crank 145 controlled by an arm 146 which is longitudinally slidable in the slide 134 and connected to said crank.

A pneumatic cylinder 147 supported by the slide 134 actuates the bar 146.

As it reciprocates the slide 134 actuates stop means 148 adapted to actuate the air-oil device 136. The station 52 which has just been described operates in the following manner: when the plate 34 arrives at the station 52 it actuates through a device not shown the pneumatic cylinder 131 which lowers the plate 121. This causes the bars 126 to slide between the members 125 and move the catches 128 and 129. The catch 128 actuates the pneumatic cylinder 44 and rotates the mold. At the same time it actuates the oil-air device 136 which moves the slide 134 inwardly. The catch 129, on the contrary, actuates the pneumatic cylinder 147 which actuates the bar 146 which rotates the adjusting means 144, and thus opens the ducts l40vwhich carry the material necessary to apply the ornamental design to the surface of the cake.

In this manner, as a consequence of the rotary movement of the plate 34 and the reciprocating movement of the slide 134 in a radial direction it is possible to produce undulating ornamental designs on the surface of the cake.

After the work beneath's'tation 52 has been completed, a rotation of the shaft 11 due to the Maltese cross coupling 18 advances the plates 34 one successive station, for example, to a station not shown on the drawings, adapted to deposit cherries or any similar material on the surface of the cake, or may bring the plate 34 directly to the discharge station 53. The discharge of the molds 35 at the station 53 may be carried out by hand or automatically using automatic gripping means not shown in the drawings and directly actuated by the plates 34.

The machine which has just been described makes it possible to produce cakes consisting of a layer of Genoese cake sprayed with wine or another liquid and covered by a flavoring which may consist of preserves, sabayon, or other products, and by one or more layers of icing covered by a granular material and provided with an ornamental design on its surface.

The advantages of making cakes of this type with the machine which has been described are very substantial with respect to hygiene and the economy of production.

From the point of view of hygiene, the materials employed are completely sterile from the moment at which they are removed from the refrigerators and without manual contact from the moment at which the entire cycle is completely mechanized.

With respect to economy, the hourly production of a machine of the type which has been described may be 500 or 600 cakes per hour. In order to produce a comparable quantity with traditional methods at least twenty workers and five specialized decorators would be required.

The machine which has just been described employs, on the contrary, only three workmen, who need not be skilled. Moreover, the machine produces a perfect and standard product and results which even the most skilled decorators, working by hand cannot obtain.

it must also be considered that the principal characteristic of the machine which has just been described that is to say the dosage of the icing through the nozzles fixed along the length of a radius of the mold at the same time as the mold is radiated about the axis, results in perfect filling of the molds and uniform distribution of the icing both as to height and length. 

1. Machine for making cakes which comprises: a. a base; b. a main shaft mounted to rotate about a vertical axis with respect to said base; c. a plurality of mold carriers carried by said main shaft, each mounted to rotate about an individual vertical axis said axes being equally spaced one from the other and located in a ring concentric with the axis of said main shaft; d. means for imparting intermittent rotary motion to said main shaft to bring each mold carrier successively to a plurality of different stations; e. means for rotating at least some of said mold carriers about their individual axes during periods when said main shAft is stationary; f. at least one supporting arm mounted on said base which supports a row of nozzles and which extends over the path travelled by said mold carriers when said main shaft is rotated; and g. means for introducing icing into said nozzles, during periods when the main shaft is stationary.
 2. Machine as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the fact that the rotating main shaft comprises a plurality of radiating arms fastened to each other, said arms defining equal angles therebetween and each rotatably supporting one of said mold carriers at its free end.
 3. Machine as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the fact that the means for imparting intermittent rotation to the main shaft comprises Maltese cross gearing actuated by an electric motor.
 4. Machine as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the fact that it comprises means beneath said nozzles for causing a mold carrier therebeneath to rotate about its axis.
 5. Machine as claimed in claim 2 which comprises a plurality of molds, each supported by one of said mold carriers and at least one station for discharging the molds from the carriers.
 6. Machine as claimed in claim 5 in which said discharge station is automatic.
 7. Machine as claimed in claim 2 in which one of said stations is a station for spraying a liquid.
 8. Machine as claimed in claim 2 in which one of said stations is a station for the dispensing of seasoning.
 9. Machine as claimed in claim 8 in which said station for introducing seasoning comprises a box supported above the path of travel of the mold carriers by an arm fixed to the base, which box has holes in its bottom through which seasoning therein passes, together with valve means for controlling the discharge of said seasoning.
 10. Machine as claimed in claim 9 in which the valve means for controlling the discharge of seasoning comprises several plates which are positioned in a fantail arrangement and each of which is adapted to block one hole in the bottom of said box, comprising means for rotating said valve means about its own axis.
 11. Machine as claimed in claim 10 in which the means for rotating the valve means consists of a pneumatic cylinder which acts on the valve means through cranks.
 12. Machine as claimed in claim 2 in which one of said stations is a station adapted to powder the surfaces of articles supported by said mold carriers with a granular food product.
 13. Machine as claimed in claim 12 in which said powdering station comprises a cylindrical cup supported above the path of travel of the mold supports by a supporting arm carried by the base, said cup being closed at the bottom by stencil means which controls the flow of the granular food product therethrough so that said product forms designs on the surface of the cakes.
 14. Machine as claimed in claim 13 in which said stencil means comprises two relatively movable parts so that more than one design can be formed.
 15. Machine as claimed in claim 13 in which the means for forming a design on the surface of the cakes comprises several bars positioned in a fantail arrangement.
 16. Machine as claimed in claim 14 in which one of said relatively movable parts is actuated by a shaft coaxial with said cup and driven by a pinion through an overrunning clutch, said pinion being driven by a chain and said machine comprising means for reciprocating the chain.
 17. Machine as claimed in claim 16 in which the means for reciprocating the chain comprise a pneumatic cylinder.
 18. Machine as claimed in claim 2 which comprises a circular rail attached to the base adapted to guide the mold carriers as they rotate with the main shaft about its vertical axis.
 19. Machine as claimed in claim 18 in which each mold carrier is supported by a vertical shaft mounted to rotate in one of said arms and each shaft is provided at its lower end with fork means equipped with rollers engaging said rail.
 20. Machine as claimed in claim 19 in which the means for rotating each mold Carrier about its own axis comprises a section of said rail and a vertical shaft supporting that mold carrier and adapted to rotate about its own axis when the fork of a mold carrier is introduced into said rail section.
 21. Machine as claimed in claim 20 in which the shafts which support said rail sections are rotated by a rack and gear transmission actuated by a pneumatic cylinder.
 22. Machine as claimed in claim 21 in which the pneumatic cylinder which actuates the rack has a stroke adapted to turn each mold carrier through a whole number of complete revolutions.
 23. Machine as claimed in claim 21 in which the pneumatic cylinder which controls the rack has a stroke such as to cause the rail section rotated thereby to complete a whole number of half revolutions about its axis.
 24. Machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said row of nozzles is positioned to extend along one radius of a mold carrier located therebelow.
 25. Machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said row of nozzles is positioned to extend along one diameter of a mold carrier positioned therebelow.
 26. Machine as claimed in claim 1 which comprises a station at which the icing produces an ornamental design on the surface of the cake and at which each mold carrier, when at that station is adapted to rotate about its own axis while said ornamental design is being applied.
 27. Machine as claimed in claim 26 characterized by the fact that said station which comprises a device for introducing icing adapted to produce an ornamental design includes a supporting plate attached to the base and means to raise and lower said supporting plate with respect to the base and to terminate the introduction of the icing at the end of the stay of each mold carrier at that station.
 28. Machine as claimed in claim 27 characterized by the fact that the means adapted to raise and lower the supporting plate with respect to the base comprises a pneumatic cylinder between the base and the supporting plate and that the supporting is supported at its lower end by elastic means.
 29. Machine as claimed in claim 28 comprising means adapted to reciprocate icing introducing means with respect to the supporting plate, said means including slide means on the supporting plate slidable in a radial direction with respect to the rotating main plate and that said slide means supports the device for introducing icing and is reciprocated by oil-air means.
 30. Machine as claimed in claim 28 characterized by the fact that the elastic means adapted to support the plate comprises two telescopic shock absorbers positioned between said supporting plate and base.
 31. Machine as claimed in claim 29 in which the oil air device consists of at least one hydraulic cylinder connected to at least one pneumatic cylinder.
 32. Machine as claimed in claim 27 in which the means adapted to terminate the introduction of the icing comprises registers which control the nozzles through which the icing is introduced.
 33. Machine as claimed in claim 32 comprising a slidable bar reciprocated by said pneumatic cylinder and a plurality of arms actuated by said bar and connected to actuate said registers. 